A simple search for "programming language" on Google brings up Perl as the number 5 result. A search for Perl brings up the CPAN as the number 3 result, with the words "The Comprehensive Perl Archive Network" in the description. perldoc -q module has the word "CPAN" in the first paragraph a half-dozen times. I don't think anyone who cares to find Perl or the CPAN is going to have trouble finding it.

Perhaps I overestimate people's intelligence, but if you're willing and able to grok Perl itself, you're likely willing and able to expand an acronymn.